New Delhi: During Christmas, Kolkata decks up in lights as the City of Joy indulges in the merriment of the festival. While the entire city is flooded with people on this day, the main place of observing Christmas is the iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is Kolkata’s largest church and and the first Anglican cathedral in Asia. It is one of the most famous monuments in the city and in this article, we will explore this architectural marvel.
St. Paul’s Cathedral: Kolkata’s largest church at the heart of the city
It can be safely said that the St. Paul’s Cathedral is located at heart of Kolkata, near the Maidan which is considered as the lungs of the city. It is located across the Bishop’s House at 51, Chowringhee Road, and is in Victoria Memorial’s east. Standing on Cathedral Road, the St. Paul’s Cathedral is situated at place which has other iconic places of Kolkata like Nandan, Rabindra Sadan and the Birla Planetarium.
Why was the St. Paul’s Cathedral built?
Before the St. Paul’s Cathedral, there was the St. John’s Church which become too small for the growing European community of Kolkata. In 1819, at the request of the then Governor-General of Bengal Francis Rawdon-Hastings, a design was produced but it was not accepted for being too expensive. In 1762, an area earmarked for the St. Paul’s Cathedral was a forest where tigers roamed. But it was not before 1832 under Bishop Daniel Wilson that the project was revived.
The construction of the Cathedral began on October 8, 1839. It took eight years to complete and was consecrated on October 8, 1847. During the consecration ceremony, Queen Victoria sent ten pieces of silver-gilt plate for the cathedral.
The architecture of the St. Paul’s Cathedral
The architecture of the St. Paul’s Cathedral is a fusion of Gothic revival style and modern construction features. It has an iron framework and had a sanctuary and chapels. At one time, it can accommodate 800 go 1,000 people. The Cathedral was damaged by the 1897 earthquake and the massive earthquake of 1934 and its tower was reconstructed.
The Cathedral’s architectural design is Indo-Gothic which meant an architectural style to suite India’s climate. Its complex has a library, and a display of plastic art forms and memorabilia. The well-maintained Cathedral has a serene and peaceful atmosphere where people of all caste and creed can visit. During Christmas, a large number of people visit the place to take part in the festivities.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kolkata’s largest church and first Anglican cathedral in Asia, stands as a majestic architectural marvel. Built in the Indo-Gothic style, it blends Gothic revival with modern features. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
